Boynton honors local pastor's social ministry

St. John's Missionary Baptist Church leader awarded for 10 years of service

November 22, 2012|By Attiyya Anthony, Sun Sentinel

Boynton Beach — — The Rev. Lance Chaney, pastor of the St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, describes his ministry as a social one.

His decade of service at the church is marked by civic partnerships and passionate sermons, tailored to the poverty-stricken "Heart of Boynton." At a recent City Commission meeting, the mayor honored him for his community involvement.

"My philosophy is that we're so much better together, and if we can find a common ground we can solve issues," Chaney said. "I'm very honored to receive the award, and looking forward to another 10 years of partnering with the city and people of Boynton."

St. John's Church has been in Boynton Beach for 104 years, and in the 10 years that Chaney has preached from the pulpit, thousands of families have not only benefited from his fiery ministries, but from church-sponsored back-to-school-drives, health-care screenings, holiday turkey giveaways, ESOL classes, free bus passes to get to work, a food panty, scholarships and a variety of seminars on parenting, finance and job-seeking.

"We're a one-stop shop for spiritual strengthening, fulfilling needs and empowerment. Because we're here, we're a better community," he said.

Within the Boynton city limits, he's established the R.M. Lee Educational Complex, which hosts workshops on character building, responsibility and leadership; the Daystar Academy of Excellence, a public elementary charter school; and Camp Good News Summer Camp, designed to inspire young leaders. He also plans to open a pre-school in January to ensure children are kindergarten-ready.

The reverend has earned the respect of many community members.

"He just sees the good in everybody," said Mark Karageorge, board member of the Community Redevelopment Agency and secretary of Pathways to Prosperity, a non-profit organization Chaney created almost three years ago to help people move from "dependency to independence."

"The reverend always puts family and community as the priorities in his life. He's there for those in need, and nine times out of 10 when people are talking about it, he's already done it," Karageorge said.

While Chaney's community development is noble, changing the lives of individual members of his congregation is what he is most proud of.

Angela Clark, 43, a single mother of four, was suffering before she started coming to church.

"I would have committed suicide, been on crack and gave my kids away if it wasn't for St. John's. I knew who I wanted to be, but I could never be it. The staff made it possible to make that change," Clark said.

Clark said she no longer suffers from addiction issues, nor does she contemplate suicide.

And her once strained relationships with her kids were fixed through classes she took at Pathway to Prosperity, "taking those classes gave me patience and understanding, and now instead of spanking and yelling, I'm encouraging," she said. "I didn't know how to positively parent before, because I never had it done to me."